Reliability and Validity of Functional Neuroimaging Techniques for Identifying Language-Critical Areas in Children and Adults
- 1 October 2004
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Informa UK Limited in Developmental Neuropsychology
- Vol. 26 (2), 541-563
- https://doi.org/10.1207/s15326942dn2602_1
Abstract
Advances in neuroimaging technologies over the last 15 years have prompted their relatively widespread use in the study of brain mechanisms supporting language function in children and adults. We reviewed reliability and external validity studies of 3 of the most common functional imaging methods, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), magnetoencephalography (MEG), and positron emission tomography (PET). Although reliability and validity reports for fMRI are generally quite favorable, significant variability was found across studies with respect to methodology, preventing in some cases either the assessment of the reliability of individual datasets, or cross-study comparisons. Reliability and validity reports of MEG are strong, yet methodological questions regarding optimal modeling techniques remain. PET investigators report good concordance of language maps with data from more invasive brain mapping techniques, but its use of radioactive tracers and poorer spatial and temporal resolution make it the least optimal of the 3 methods for language mapping. Investigations of the cortical networks supporting language function during development and into adulthood should be viewed in the context of the validity and reliability of the methods used, with careful attention to details regarding the methodologies employed in the acquisition and analysis of statistical maps.Keywords
This publication has 58 references indexed in Scilit:
- A Direct Test for Lateralization of Language Activation using fMRI: Comparison with Invasive Assessments in Children with EpilepsyNeuroImage, 2002
- Comparison of Minimum Current Estimate and Dipole Modeling in the Analysis of Simulated Activity in the Human Visual CorticesNeuroImage, 2002
- Language Dominance in Children as Determined by Magnetic Source Imaging and the Intracarotid Amobarbital Procedure: A ComparisonJournal of Child Neurology, 2001
- An H215O-PET study of cerebral blood flow changes during focal epileptic discharges induced by intracerebral electrical stimulationBrain, 1999
- Comparative localization of auditory comprehension by using functional magnetic resonance imaging and cortical stimulationJournal of Neurosurgery, 1999
- Identification of Language-Specific Brain Activity Using MagnetoencephalographyJournal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 1998
- Comparison of Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Language Localization and Intracarotid Speech Amytal Testing in Presurgical Evaluation for Intractable EpilepsyStereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery, 1997
- Functional PET Scanning in the Preoperative Assessment of Cerebral Arteriovenous MalformationsStereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery, 1995
- PET-FDG Test-Retest Reliability During a Visual Discrimination Task in SchizophreniaJournal of Computer Assisted Tomography, 1993
- Brain perfusion with intracarotid injection of99mTc-HM-PAO in partial epilepsy during amobarbital testingEuropean Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, 1990